NZ214914A

NZ214914A - Rotatable water-permeable container for cultivating molluscs

Info

Publication number: NZ214914A
Application number: NZ214914A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Wayne Robert Moxham
Original assignee: Wayne Robert Moxham
Priority date: 1985-01-30
Filing date: 1986-01-23
Publication date: 1987-06-30
Also published as: KR930010650B1; KR860005581A; CN86100620A; CN1017677B

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 2 f 4 c. 1 ^ o r- friority Date(s): .3ft .0»N. .... Complete Specification Filed: Class: • t , | Publication Date: ... 3. P.O. 'Jourfiat' C 23JANB84™'1 Patents Form No. 5 Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "CULTIVATING MOLLUSCS" I, WAYNE ROBERT MOXHAM, an Australian citizen, of 23 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn, New South Wales 2253, Australia, hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: -I- I This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cultivating molluscs particularly oysters. Presently known methods and apparatus for cultivating molluscs suffer from the following disadvantages. the molluscs are 1. When/allowed to attach themselves freely to support structures such as stakes they attach to one another in clumps. This results in deformed shells which are difficult to classify and open and extra labour is required to break up the clumps. Alsor the shells underneath are not able to feed 10 properly and hence do not develop normally. 2. Tidal estuaries provide an excellent environment for growing oysters. However, such an environment deposits silt or mud on the shells. The mud not only reduces the feeding rate of the oysters and so slows their growth but also harbours mud worm and other diseases which can destroy the oyster. 3. The shells of young oysters are relatively soft and can be opened easily by fish which eat the oyster inside. Enormous wastage, up to 80 per cent can be caused by fish. 20 It is an object of this invention to overcome one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages. The invention in one broad form includes the method of cultivating molluscs, comprising the steps of placing young molluscs in a water-permeable container, supporting the container in mollusc-feeding water and regularly moving or agitating the container to move the molluscs therein. The invention in another broad form comprises a water-permeable container adapted to hold a number of molluscs, said container being adapted to be supported "iV c 30 mollusc-feeding water, said container having means causing it SBK/JAP 0066U -2- " to be agitated to move any molluscs therein. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows one form of the container supported above the tide level Figure 2 shows the same container submerged at a higher tide level Figure 2A shoes a similar container with different floatation. 10 Figure 3 shows a similar container Figure 4 shows another method of obtaining agitation Figure 5 shows another method of agitation Figures 6 and 7 show another method of agitation Figures 8 and 9 show another method of agitation Figure 10 shows another method of agitation. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the container 1 has gauze or mesn walls 2. The container 1 is supported above or in the water 3 by posts 4 and cross-bar 5. The container 1 is rotatably attached by loops 6 to the cross-bar 5. A buoyant 20 member 7 is attached to the container, preferably opposite the loops 6. The buoyant member 7 may be integral with the end wall 2 of the container 1 as shown in Figure 2A. The height of the posts 4 and hence the level of the container 1 may be adjusted so that as the water level recedes as the tide falls the container 1 is out of the water 3 as in Figure 1. As the tide rises the container 1 becomes partly or completely submerged as in Figure 2. As the tide rises and falls the container 1 is slowly rotated up and down about the^ cross-bar 5 and loops 6 by the action of the buoyant member 7. 30 The rotation of the container 1 causes a regular SBR/JAP 0066U -3- ■ 1 • . . 7. : .-/> ■* tumbling action on the molluscs 8. Figure 3 has similar reference numerals to figures 1 and 2. It has a different rotation means as at 9. Figure 4 shows a container 1 capable of being moved up ; and down with the tide by the action of the float 7 about a | hinged joint 10 to a post 4. • In Figure 5 the container 1 is rotatably attached at 11 I 0 to the posts 4. A propellor or the like 12 rotates the j • container 1 by the action of both the in-coming and out-going 10 tide. ! Figure 6 shows a similar container to Figures 1 and 2 (^) but the agitation is caused by the in-coming and out-going tide acting on the vane 13. Figures 8 and 9 show a similar arrangment of Figure 5 but the rotation is caused by the action of the tide on vane 14. Figure 10 shows a similar arrangment to Figures 8 and 9 but the container 1 has a different shape and different vane 15. 20 It is essential to the inventive concept that the molluscs are moved regularly in the water. This is preferably done by agitation of the container, producing a slow tumbling of the molluscs that achieves the objects of the invention. Because the shells are in regular motion they do not attach to each other or to the container walls. Hence they are not deformed and because the molluscs have greater access to the mollusc-feeding water they grow more quickly. As the molluscs are tumbled in the surrounding water mud ^ and silt is dislodged from them. This also improved their 30 ability to feed and further increases their growing rate. SBR/JAP 0066U -4- y, ■. ■>■' . I i 2 1 4 .-■f- ; The term water-permeable container means a hollow I f container, preferably cylindrical in shape with at least some of its walls (preferably the cylindrical wall) made of gauze or mesh through which the water may pass. The hole size of the mesh would usually be a compromise between the free flow of water through the container and the mollusc size and age so that fish are prevented from attacking the shells. While the invention has been described with reference to a natural tidal situation, it is egually suited to artificial 10 cultivation methods and arrangements. The water level in a growing tank could be raised and lowered so the container 1 ^ would be rotated by the action of the float 7. Also, water could be moved through a tank so the arrangements of Figures 5 to 10 would work. It is envisaged that a container such as 1 could be fixed in a tank of water and the mollusc movement is caused by fluctuating natural or mechanical current flow or by ordinary | mechanical rotation. i | The method of the invention envisages using apparatus I 20 described above for the cultivation of molluscs. The term ] ? I "rotation" does not necessarily mean full revolutions. ] j From the foregoing description which is only exemplary of the invention it is apparent that uniformly well-shaped quick-growing disease-free molluscs can be produced. o 30 SBR/JAP 0066U -5- </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for growing molluscs comprising a water-permeable container adapted to hold a number of molluscs and adapted to be supported in mollusc-feeding water characterised in that the container has means causing it to be agitated or rotated to move any molluscs therein.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is rotatably supported and the means for rotating the container is responsive to the movement of the water.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means responsive to movement of the water is a buoyant means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means responsive to movement of the water is a vane. \

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the movement of the water is natural tidal flow.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the movement of the water is mechanically generated.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for agitating or rotating the container is mechanical.

8. A method of growing molluscs comprising the steps of placing young molluscs in a water-permeable container, supporting the container in mollusc-feeding water and at least partially rotating or agitating the container to move the molluscs in the container.

9. A method of growing molluscs as claimed in claim 8 wherein the container is rotatably supported and rotation is a caused by/buoyant means on the container as the water level changes due to tidal flow or to mechanically moved water in a container. r -

10. A method of growing molluscs as claimed in claim 8 SBR/JAP 0066U -6- - V K- >r= wherein rotation is caused by a vane on the container moved by water movement due to tidal flow or to mechanically moved water.

11. An apparatus for growing molluscs arranged, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of growing molluscs as hereinbefore O O SBR/JAP 0066U -7- </div>